What is observable Behaviour in psychology?

Behaviorism emerged early in the 20th century and became a major force in American psychology. Championed by psychologists such as John B. Watson (1878–1958) and B. F. Skinner (1904–1990), behaviorism rejected any reference to mind and viewed overt and observable behavior as the proper subject matter of psychology.

For decades, behaviorism dominated American psychology. By the 1960s, psychologists began to recognize that behaviorism was unable to fully explain human behavior because it neglected mental processes.

Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. Behaviorists believe that our responses to environmental stimuli shape our action. Behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner regardless of internal mental states.

There are two major types of conditioning:

1. Classical Conditioning is a technique frequently used in behavioral training in which a neutral stimulus is paired with a naturally occurring stimulus. Eventually, the neutral stimulus comes to evoke the same response as the naturally occurring stimulus, even without the naturally occurring stimulus presenting itself. The associated stimulus is now known as the conditioned stimulus and the learned behavior is known as the conditioned response. There is also unconditioned response caused by unconditioned stimulus involuntarily. Sometimes Conditioned response and Unconditioned response are claimed to be similar.
   

Learning can occur through associations. The classical conditioning process works by developing an association between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. In physiologist Ivan Pavlov’s classic experiments, dogs associated the presentation of food (something that naturally and automatically triggers a salivation response) with the sound of a bell, at first, and then the sight of a lab assistant’s white coat. Eventually, the lab coat alone elicited a salivation response from the dogs

Different factors can influence the classical conditioning process. During the first part of the classical conditioning process, known as acquisitions, a response is established and strengthened. Factors such as the prominence of the stimuli and the timing of presentation can play an important role in how quickly an association is formed.

When an association disappears, this is known as extinction, causing the behavior to weaken gradually or vanish. Factors such as the strength of the original response can play a role in how quickly extinction occurs. The longer a response has been conditioned, for example, the longer it may take for it to become extinct.

Factors like generalization is common where we elaborate our new information and relate them with our existing information. These actions are performed by us on regular basis where we make resemblance and thus are able to store in our brain for longer period of time. We generally make common mistakes while generalizing.

Motivated Forgetting refers to the memories and experiences we want to forget because of their negative impact on our brain and behavior functioning. This mostly takes place when remembering of some traumatic makes catching up with new things harder.

2.  Operant Conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through reinforcements and punishments. Edward Throndike, a pioneering psychologist who described the law of effect, he talked about association between a behavior and a consequence for behavior. When a desirable result follows an action, the behavior becomes more likely to occur again in the future. Responses followed by adverse outcomes, on the other hand, become less likely to happen again in the future.

Reinforcement schedules are important in operant conditioning. This process seems fairly straight forward—simply observe a behavior and then offer a reward or punishment. However, Skinner discovered that the timing of these rewards and punishments has an important influence on how quickly a new behavior is acquired and the strength of the corresponding response.

3. Observational Learning is a also a prominent part of behavioral psychology. Founded by Albert Bandura had had many arguments against his theory of learning by imitation of model through several steps that also contribute to change in our psychological behavior.

Factors That Influence Observational Learning

According to Bandura’s research, there are a number of factors that increase the likelihood that a behavior will be imitated.

We are more likely to imitate:

• People we perceive as warm and nurturing​.
• People who receive rewards for their behavior​.
• When you have been rewarded for imitating the behavior in the past​.
• When we lack confidence in our own knowledge or abilities​.
• People who are in an authoritative position over our lives​.
• People who are similar to us in age, sex, and interests​.
• People who we admire or who are of a higher social status​.
• When the situation is confusing, ambiguous, or unfamiliar.

Observational theory has real world impacts on people especially  kids who lack theory of mind. Effects of adaptations through imitations from virtual world around us have more dangerous than helpful impacts on society.  They encourage more violence, aggression, depression, bluntness etc versus kindness, generosity, helpfulness and others.

           Strengths and Weakness of Behavioral Psychology

• Behavioral psychology has some strengths. Behaviorism is based on observable behaviors, so it is sometimes easier to quantify and collect data when conducting research. Effective therapeutic techniques such as intensive behavioral intervention, behavior analysis, token economies, and discrete trial training are all rooted in behaviorism. These approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or harmful behaviors in both children and adults.
• It also has some weaknesses. Many critics argue that behaviorism is a one-dimensional approach to understanding human behavior. They suggest that behavioral theories do not account for free will and internal influences such as moods, thoughts, and feelings. Also, it does not account for other types of learning that occurs without the use of reinforcement and punishments. Moreover, people and animals can adapt their behavior when new information is introduced even if that behavior was established through reinforcement.